Michelle Obama to do touchdown dance on 'Puppy Bowl' show

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama brings the family dogs Bo, front, and Sunny to an event. (Jonathan Ernst, Reuters)

WASHINGTON — If you want to see first lady Michelle Obama do a touchdown dance on Super Bowl Sunday, tune in to "Puppy Bowl X," a spoof that airs beginning at 2 p.m. Chicago time on Animal Planet.

As part of her "Let's Move" campaign to end childhood obesity, Obama enlisted the family's Portuguese water dogs, Bo and Sunny, at a pre-game "training camp" for some of the canine participants on the South Lawn of the White House in October, said Jared Albert, an Animal Planet publicist.

With Washington schoolchildren on hand, 13 puppies from shelters and rescue groups played fetch and ran agility drills as Obama taped segments announcing "Let the Puppy Bowl begin" and demonstrating a touchdown dance.

On Sunday's program, puppies will score points by dragging chew toys past a goal line but face penalties for violations such as unnecessary roughness, Albert said. Penguins will perform as cheerleaders and "Keyboard Cat" will put on a halftime show, he said.

In one segment, Obama advises against being an "armchair quarterback" and urges 60 minutes of physical activity a day and a well-balanced diet.

Albert said her messages are paired with the whole point of Puppy Bowl: spreading awareness about pet adoption.